SALISBURY, N.C. - Catawba College jumped on the No. 6 Columbus State University baseball team early, scoring three runs in the first inning and then held on to grab a 6-4 win on Saturday in the middle game of a non-conference three-game series. The game was played at Newman Park in Salisbury, N.C.
The Indians (5-5) struck for two extra-base hits in the three-run first, including a two-run homer by Luke Spiva.
"We just couldn't get the big hit tonight," added head coach Greg Appleton. "Catawba has some arms, so we have to avoid getting down early."
CSU's (8-2) offense attempted to help Cougar starter Noah Windhorst out of the early jam as the Cougars had runners on the corners with no outs in the second. However, CSU only pushed across one when Seth Nelson hit a sacrifice fly.
CC got the run right back in its half of the second on a two-out single by Cameron Mills.
After Columbus State stranded a leadoff double in the third, the Cougars did put a run on the board in the fourth on a Win Johns fielder's choice.
The Indians chased Windhorst from the game after the fourth and then went to work on Timbo Trawick in the fifth. Trawick issued a walk and plunked a hitter before a wild pitch pushed the margin to 5-2. CC was also gifted a run in the sixth after a leadoff error, passed ball and a wild pitch allowed Joe Butts to score the sixth run of the game for Catawba.
Columbus State had another opportunity in the seventh as a Johns walk and Matthew McDade single got things started for the Cougars. Following a strikeout, CSU had the bases loaded as Isaac Bouton found a hole with a single to bring up the tying run.
Robert Brooks was able to bring the Cougars within two thanks to a two-out single, but a fielder's choice retired the side and kept CC in front.
The Cougars were only able to muster one single over the eighth and ninth against Robbie Cowie, who recorded the two-inning save.
McDade was 2-for-4 with a run, while Brooks had a 1-for-4 day with two RBIs. Seth Nelson and Johns both had a RBI for CSU.
Windhorst (2-1) took the loss after allowing four runs in four innings. The Indians collected nine hits against the righty. Chandler Ring (1 IP 1 K) and Leo Giannoni (1 IP, 2 Ks) had scoreless appearances.
Butts (3-for-5, 2 runs, 2B), Mills (3-for-5, RBI) and Braxton Davis (3-for-5) all had three-hit days for Catawba.
UP NEXT
Columbus State and Catawba will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
COUGAR NOTES
• CSU tied a season-low with seven hits
• Nelson extended his hitting streak to seven games. The sophomore has a hit in every game he has started this season
• Brooks picked up his 20th and 21st RBIs of the season. He still remains the national leader.
• The loss snapped Columbus State's 10-game road winning streak
• CSU holds a 4-2 lead in the all-time series against Catawba
